In selecting and evaluating a new dump site for disposal of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) repository, its hydrogeology condition is one of the most important factors. Moreover, soil permeability of the aeration zone is one of the key issues in the study of hydrogeology, affecting water infiltration, runoff and evapotranspiration in the surface soil layer and their distribution relations. Analysis of soil permeability of the aeration zone helps understand the mechanism of groundwater formation. Beishan in Gansu Province is a preselected priority region for disposal of China’s HLW, while Xinchang-Xiangyangshan is a preselected priority site. For that end, investigations were carried out on soil permeability of the aeration zone in that preselected site, using the double ring method and and a Guelph infiltration meter in-situ. With the aid of software SPSS 19.0, soil organic matter, initial soil water content, soil pH, soil bulk density, soil total ion content and soil particle size distribution were selected as 6 main affecting factors for principal component analysis. This project was aimed at acquiring data for in-depth study on characteristics of soil water movement and formation and circulation of groundwater in the area, so as to provide some scientific basis for site determination and performance evaluation of the preselected area. The following knowledge and results were obtained：(1) horizontal distribution of permeability coefficients of the soil aeration zone of Xinchang-Xiangyangsan was characterized by ① soil permeability varied sharply with the location; ② in terms of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (K_fs), various geomorphic units followed an order of gully (4×10^-5 m s^-1) > slow slope (1.6×10^-5 m s^-1) > flat land (7.69×10^-6 m s^-1). Therefore，it could be inferred that gullies are the main area where rainwater infiltrates and permeates into deep soil to form groundwater, and an area that should be crossed out from the list of candidates of HLW dump sites, because of its active groundwater; ③ K_fs is higher at the Xinchang fault belt than at the Jijicao fault belt, being on average 2.75×10^-4 m s^-1 and 9.37×10^-5 m s^-1, respectively. So large-scaled fault belts should also be crossed out from the list due to its highly active groundwater; ④ K_fsin clay is very low, being on average only 9.99×10^-7 m s^-1. (2) Soil permeability also varied vertically, with K_fs rising first and declining later down the soil in depth at the four experimental points in the Sishilijing Basin. As the number of soil samples was limited, causes and trend of the change need to be further explored. (3) Analysis of factors affecting K_fs and its mechanism shows that K_fs is closely related to soil physical and chemical properties, and the principal component analysis indicates that K_fs affecting factors may be summarized as follows: the first principal component may be described as soil looseness, which is affected mainly by initial soil water content, organic matter content and soil particle size composition; the second one is basic physical and chemical properties, mainly including soil pH, soil total ion content, soil bulk density and soil particle size (>0.5 mm) composition; and the third one is soil particle size composition, mainly of the particles ranging from 0.1mm to 0.5 mm in size. In a word，among all the affecting factors, the contents of moderate-coarse sands (> 0.5 mm) and clayey silts (< 0.1 mm) are the highest in effect affecting K_fs , while the content of medium-fine sands (0.1 ~ 0.5 mm) is the lowest.